Valve.



No. 802,091. I PATENTED-OGT. 17, 1905.

13. v. ANDERSON.

VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 26,1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

FIG. 1

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No. 802,091. PATENTBD OCT. 17, 1905. E. V. ANDERSON.

VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20.1904.

2 SHEBTS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES. I NVENTOR. j, 0?. $114K W 2* W ANDREW a (mum co wow-umuamvnsns msumcwn, u c.

"UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1905.

Application filed October 26, 1904. Serial No. 230,072-

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD V. ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Valves, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to feed-valves forelevated water-tanks and other reservoirs; and the general purpose thereof is to provide valve mechanism of simple and improved construction which is operated automatically by pressure emanating from the discharge side of the main valve for maintaining the water in the tank at a predetermined level.

A further purpose is to provide a valve mechanism which may be placed in the feedline .at any convenient and protected point and not necessarily in close proximity to the tank or reservoir, as when used in connection with a roof-tank.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the valve mechanism that it is positively operated by the tank-pressure obtainable at any point between the discharge side of the main valveand the tank.

While the usual actuating-float mechanism is eliminated from the preferred embodiment of the invention, I have arranged an adaptation thereof which is operated by a float, the valves being of like construction and cooperating in similar manner in both forms.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a verticalsectional view of the improved valve mechanism with the valve closed. Fig. 2 is a similar view of mechanism of modified form adapted to be operated by a float.

Referring to the drawings, 2 designates the main valve-body, 3 being the inlet side thereof, connected to a pump or other source of supply, and 4the outlet side, connected to a tank or reservoir. Valve-body 2 is bridged at 5, and the passages therethrough are controlled by the double main valve 6, secured to stem 7. Above body 2 is casing 8, which incloses chamber 9, with diaphragm 10 forming the movable bottom wall thereof, the diaphragmplate 10 being secured to the upper end of stem 7. Partition 11 forms the top wall of chamber 9 and the bottom wall of water space or chamber 12 immediately above chamber 9 and communicating therewith through the ported valve-seat 13. The diaphragm 14 forms the movable top wall of space or chamber 12, and extending through diaphragmplate 14 is the cylindrical valve-carrier l5,held

thereof and also operates to clamp and secure the center of the diaphragm, as shown. A valve 17 has a limited independent movement .within carrier 15, the lower portion of the valve being reduced and shouldered at 17 to extend through the contracted opening of cap 16, the latter thus serving to confine the valve within the carrier. A spring 18 aids in holding the valve normally projected and closed against the ported seat 13.

A post 19 projects vertically from carrier 15 through the top of casing 8, and bearing thereon is horizontal lever 20, while overhanging the lever and engaging the top edge thereof in a line at one side of the bearing of post 19 is anchor-hook 21. This anchor is free to move laterally on its pivot 21, thus compensating for the slight deflection of the lever when oscillating and avoiding a scraping contact between the lever and post 19. Lever 20 extends through a rest 22 andat its outer end carries adjustable counterweight 20.

Extending from chamber 9 is the port 23, which leads to exhaustvalve 24, which is closed automatically by spring 25. The stem 26 of this valve is engaged and depressed by lever 20, and the valve is thus held normally open. A waste-pipe 27 extends from valve 24 to any convenient point.

A pipe 28 is here shown extending from outlet side 4 of the main valve-body to water space or chamber 12 in order that the waterpressure within space 12 may be the same as at the discharge side of the valve. This result may be obtained by making the connection at the main valve, as here shown, or at any point between the main valve and the tank, or the connection may extend from the tank to space 12, as may be preferred.

In operation the inwardly-flowing water at 3 forces upward the double valve 6, (the ends of the latter being of different areas, so that the valve will readily open,) thus permitting the water to flow through 4 and onward into the tank or reservoir. If the inflow exceeds the outflow from the tank, the pressure in side 4 will rise, and the same is true of the pressure in space or chamber 12, and when this pressure has ascended to a predetermined point it operates to lift diaphragm 14 against the downward pressure of the weighted arm 20 and raise valve 17,. thus admitting the water under pressure into chamber 9 and forcing diaphragm 10 downward and closing valve 6, as shown in Fig. 1. The lifting of arm 20 by diaphragm 14, as just described, permits valve 24 to close, so that at such time there is no escape for the water in chamber 9. Upon the lowering of the tank-pressure, which causes a corresponding decrease in the waterpressure in chamber 12, weighted arm 20 forces downward diaphragm 14 and seats valve 17, as shown in Fig. 1, and at the same time opens release-valve 24 by depressing stem 26. As soon as the pressure of the inflowing water in chamber 3 is sufficient to overcome the pressure in 4 valve 6 is raised, and with it diaphragm 10, as above described, this movement of the diaphragm operating to force a portion of the water in chamber 9 through port 23 and open valve 24 into discharge-pipe 27, and the valve continues to thus open and close automatically in response to variations in the tank-pressure. The waste isinsignificant, as at each operation only a portion of the capacity of chamber 9 is released. The inlet-valve and outlet-valve are arranged to act at slightly different intervalsthat is to say, when the main valve is being closed, as above described, the release-valve is closed slightly in advance of the opening of the valve controlling the inlet-port, and vice versa. This is accomplished by the independent movement of valve 17 in the carrier.

While pipe 28 may connect with the valvebody, as here shown, regardless of the source of supply at 3, such arrangement is more desirable when the supply at- 3 is derived from a street or other main having substantially uniform pressure than when the supply emanates from a pump in close proximity to the valve, for in the latter case the pulsations caused by the pump may be communicated to space or chamber 12 and cause an undesirable fluttering or vibrating of diaphragm 14. Hence where the pressure is derived from a near-by pump it may be desirable to have connection 28 extend from the tank to space 12, as at that distance the objectionable tendency just referred to is avoided. Stem7 is preferably tubular, and hence of considerable area, in order to reduce the top area of valve 6, so that the pressure in discharge side 4 of the main valve-chamber will not retard the opening of valve 6. With the valve closed, as in Fig. 1, carrier 15 forms a solid connection between partition 11 and lever 20, no portion of the lever-pressure being exerted on valve 17. so that there is no danger of crushing-or injuring the latter.

In the adaptation shown in Fig. 2 a cylinder 29 is substituted for diaphragm-chamber 9, and a piston 30, operative in the cylinder and connecting with stem 7, is substituted for diaphragm 10, the piston forming the bottom movable wall of cylinder or chamber 29, as will be understood.

chamber 31, which corresponds with space 12, and the valve mechanism 32 for controlling Above cylinder 29 is erative in tank or reservoir 38.

communication between chambers 31 and 29 is thesame as that shown in Fig. 1; but in the modified form diaphragm 14 or the equivalent thereof is dispensed with, and instead the valve mechanism is provided with stem 32, which is connected to horizontal lever 33. This lever is fulcru-med at one endv at 34 and at its opposite end is connected by rod 35 with arm 36, carrying float 37, the latter being op- Cylinder or chamber 29 has a releaseport 39, controlled by release-valve 24, as in the construction first described, with valve-stem 26 thereof held normally depressed and open by lever 33, which bears downward thereon. The inlet side3 of the main valve-body is connected by pipe 40 with space or chamber 31. While I have shown a convenient form of connection between the valve and float mechanisms, they may be operatively united in various ways, as will be understood. In the operation of this modified construction the pressure of water at inlet 3 lifts valve 6, and with it piston 30, and the water continues to flow into the tank until float 37 rises sufficiently to lift lever 33, and with it valve mechanism 32, thus admitting water under pressure from space 31 to cylinder 29, which forces downward piston 30 and closes valve 6. As the water-level lowers in tank 38 lever 33 and valve mechanism 32 lower to normal position, thus closing communication between space 31 and the cylinder 29 and at the same time opening valve 24, as in the construction first described. When piston 30 is again raised by the opening of valve 6, the water or a portion thereof in cylinder 29 is forced outward through the then open releasevalve 24. This automatic operation is continuous and maintains the water in tank 38 at a uniform level.

In the construction shown in Fig. 1 all parts of the apparatus may be conveniently placed in the engine or pump room or elsewhere within the building, as may be found convenient, the operation thereof being controlled by the static pressure of the water at the discharge side of the apparatus regardless of whether this pressure emanates directly from the feedvalve, from the tank, or from an intermediate point. With the adaptation shown in Fig. 2 the operation is dependent on a float operative within the tank, and hence it is necessary to maintain a connection between the float and valve mechanisms; but this connection, such as a ,rod 35, may be of considerable length, with the tank and feed-valve widely separated. In both adaptations the same valve mechanism is used for admitting water under pressure, which effects the closing of the main valve 6, and the same release-valve is used in both.

The improved feed-valve, and particularly the adaptation shown in Fig. 1, may be variously used for regulating and maintaining the pressure of water and other liquids or gas,

IIO

and I do not restrict myself to the particular I tion with a closed reservoir or receiver without regard to elevation or may be used for maintaining given pressure in a pipe-line without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim-* 1. The combination of a main valve, a waterchamber having a movable wall connected to the valve, an inlet-valve for the chamber, an outlet-valve, and actuating means for the valves constructed and arranged to open the inlet-valve and close the outlet-valve under predetermined force emanating from the dis charge side of the main valve.

2. The combination of a main valve, a waterchamber having a movable wall connected to the valve, an inlet-valve for the chamber, inlet-valve-actuating means constructed and arranged to open the valve under predetermined force emanating from the discharge side of the main valve, and a release-valve for said chamber constructed and arranged to close slightly in advance of the time the inlet-valve opens and vice versa.

3. The combination of a main valve, achamber having a movable wall connected to the valve, an inlet-valve and a release-valve for said chamber, a lever operating to hold the inlet-valve normally closed and the releasevalve normally open, a water-supply for said chamber controlled by the inlet-valve, and actuating means for said lever constructed and arranged to be operated by force emanating from the discharge side of the main valve.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a main valve, of a chamber having an inlet-port and an .outlet-port, a valve-carrier and valve for the inlet-port, said valve having a limited movement independently of its carrier, a valve for the outlet-port, actuating means common to both valves arranged to open the inlet-valve in advance of closing the outlet-valve, and vice versa.

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a chamber, an inlet and a release valve for the chamber, a lever operatively connected to both valves and adapted normally to hold the inlet-valve closed and the release-valve open, and lever-actuating means for so moving the lever as to permit the inlet-valve to open and the release-valve to close.

6. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a main valve, of a chamber having an inlet-port and an outlet-port, a valve-carrier, a valve for the inlet-port having a limited movement independently of the carrier, a valve for the outlet-port and valveactuating means common to both the inlet and outlet valves.

7. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a chamber having a port, a valve-carrier formed with a cavity, a valve for said port having a limited movement within the cavity independently of the carrier, and actuating means connected to the carrier.

8. In apparatus of the character described,

the combination of a chamber having a port, a valve-carrier formed with a cavity, a valve for the port having limited movement in the carrier-cavity, a spring for yieldingly holding the valve seated, and actuating means connected to the carrier.

9. The combination of a main valve, a chamber having a movable wall connected to the valve, a water-space having a port opening into said chamber, means for conducting water emanating from the discharge of themain valve into said water-space, a valve for controllmg said port, means for holding the valve normally closed, valve-actuating means operated by the pressure of water in said water-space for opening the valve, and a release-valve for said chamber, means for holding the release-valve normally open and for closing the same.

10. The combination of a main valve, a chamber having a movable wall connected to the valve, a water-space having a port opening into said chamber, means for conducting water emanating from the discharge of the main valve into said water-space, a movable wall inclosing one side of the water-space, a valve carried by said movable wall for controlling said port leading to the chamber, means for holding the valve-carrying wall normally in inward position with the waterspace contracted and the valve seated, a release-valve for the said chamber, and means for opening and closing the release-valve.

11. The combination of a main valve, a chamber, a diaphragm forming the bottom of the chamber, an operative connection between the diaphragm and the main valve, a release-valve for the chamber, a water-space above said chamber and communicating therewith through a port, a diaphragm forming the top of the water-space, a valve for saidport carried by the last-mentioned diaphragm, means for holding the water-space diaphragm normally depressed and the valve closed, and means for conducting water emanating from the discharge side of the main valve into said water-space.

12. The combination of a main valve, a chamber, a diaphragm forming the movable bottom wall of the chamber, an operative connection between the diaphragm and the valve, a water-space above the chamber having a port opening thereinto, a diaphragm forming the movable top wall of the water-space, a valve for said port carried by the water- -space diaphragm, an automatically-closing & 802,091'

release valve for said chamber, Weighted In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in means operatrng to hold the release-valve norpresence of two subscrlblng Witnesses. mally open and the Water-space dlaphragm r 1 normally depressed With the valve carried by ARD ANDERSON 5 the latter closed, and means for conducting Witnesses:

Water emanating from the discharge of the MARGARET HUGHES,

main valve into said Water-space. l W. G. DOOLITTLE. 

